Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-06-03
What About the 18th of July?

What About the 18th of July?
I'VE call especial attention to this
communication from our national pres
sident.-ED.
What becomes of the Fourth of July?
Once it was sacred to patriotism-now
it seems to be given over to pyrotech-
mics and lager beer. Can the temper
ance hosts of the nation. North and
South, do better than pre-empt this
Sabbath of the patriot "For God and
home and native land"?
If there is doctrine that needs en-
phasls at this mile-post of the army's
march, 1t is America for the Ameri-
cans. BY this l mean TO hint at no cru
SADIE against our foreign-born people,
but to set clearly forth the fact that
their highest good lies in becoming
American just as rapidly as they can.
1t is not because our country resembles
their own, that they have come to us,
but precisely because it is so different
from the lands that have oppressed
them. 1t is not because our customs,
habits and laws are those to which they
have been used, but because ours are
better, nobler and have set us forward
faster than they have progressed at
home, that they have sought our Shores
Evey true interest Of the alien lies in
ceasing to be an alien and becoming an
American. That we should bring out
IN bold relief our national history, in
stitutions, habits and laws in the very
points where they differ most widely
from those of other countries, is, be-
lleve, desired by all intelligent foreign
ers WHO are most OF all proud that they
are or can become Americans. IT our
forecast Of the good time coming should
show that we propose to limit by law
the influx Of European pauper labor,
none will rejoice more truly than the
Americanized working man of foreign
birth. II we show that true idea of
personal liberty involves the overthrow
OF the saloon, the enfranchisement of
women and the cooperative system be-
tween labor and capital, we may win
an army of new adherents as result
OF Fourth Of July celebration, care
fully and wisely planned. Let me urge
our local unions to think earnestly of
this and early to announce their pur-
pose, seeking the sympathy Of pastors
and leaders among business men that
we may avoid rival celebrations plan
ned later on. Let us train and drill the
Loyal Legions Of boys and girls to take
their part in the procession and the
program. Anna Gordon's bright col.
lection OF speeches, songs, ETC., for the
children Gall in rhyme) will be of SER
vice in this part of the plan. Extracts
from DR.. Herrick Johnson's personal
Liberty" "a new Timely Talk just is.
sued from the W.. T. P. A. Office, as are
all Of the rest referred to- will make ex.
cellent reading; a "Voter's Soliloquy,'
"On Which Side are You?" and "Falla.
cies of High License" will all furnish
material on the temperance question:
Such tunes as Marching thro' Gecr.
gia," "Maryland, my Maryland" may be
Sung to prohibition words. now ready
at our Headquarters, and an address by
some clear-headed speaker should be
ANNOUNCED with special reference to
enlisting the attention of wage workers
labor organizations, etc. Nothing will
attract more than program where the
boys march and have a military drill
and where boys and girls have large
part in the exercises. "Where the lambs
go the flock will follow.",..
This celebration is especially and
most earnestly commended to the at.
tention Of all our friends in the states
Lwhere the Constitutional Prohibitory
| Amendment is pending and in Mich,
gan and Ohio where unsuccessful G.,
campaigns have made fresh inspira,
tions important to the morale of the
Temperance army.
Yours in battle,
FRANCES e. WILLARD.
| A bill has passed the Massachusetts,
House of Representative almost
unanimously, and is expected to pass
the Senate, providing that there shall
be but one saloon licensed to every five
hundred inhabitants. This will reduce
the number about tWc-thirds in Bos.
ton.
An exchange calls attention to the
following fact: "Cook county, ILL.,, I'M
der much-vaunted high license, has
an empty treasury, a debt Of $4,000
op1 ;c ,,,rcc,d with rascal offiniaIc ar; N,